Timepiece-movement



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Z VU/ g A A TTRNEYS T. F. l@ OBRIEN.

TIMEPIECE MOVEMENT.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.20, 1920.

Patented Sept. 20

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

T. F. l. OBRIEN.

TlMEPl-ECE MOVEMENT. APPucATmN FILED AuaLzo. 1920.

Patented Sept. 20, 1921.

2 SHEETS*SHEET 2.

A TTORNE YS UNITED STATES THOMAS F. I. OBRIEN, 0F BROKLYN, NEW YORK.

TIMEPIECE-MOVEMENT Application filed August 20, 1920.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THoMAs F. I. OBRmN,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county ofKings and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Timepiece-Movements; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exacty description of the invention,such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same. n

This invention relates to time `piece movements, and more particularlyto the part which is generally known as the esrapement. Heretofore theescapement in watches particularly has been by means of a balance wheelhaving a long spiral spring and a walking-beam control by means of whichthe speed of the watch movement is restricted.

The objects of the present invention are to overcome the oscillatorymovement of the escapement mechanism; to reduce the length of springnecessary for control of the escapement; to provide a structure which isnot affected by changes in temperature, and thus permits `the time pieceto run accurately under varying conditions; to avoid unnecessarilychanging the driving mechanism of the present day time piece; to securesimplicity of construction, installation and operation, and to obtainother advantages andresults that may be brought out in the' followingdescription. Y i

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals ofreference indicate similar parts throughout the several views;

Figure l is a rear view of anopen time piece showing my inventionapplied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a-vertical sectional view through my improved escapementmeans;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the parts in different position;

Figs. 5 & 6 are views corresponding to Figs. 2 and 4f, showing amodifiedconstruc- Figs. 7 & A8 are views corresponding to Figs. 3 and 4 of-astill further modified construction.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 20, 1921.

Serial No. 404,754.

which is mounted the usual motive means such as the spring 2 foractuating the movement through a suitable train of gearing 3. Associatedwith this train of gearing 3 is my improved escapement means whichoperates to retard the movement of the gearing to the proper speed sothehands indicatingd 'i the time of dayl will make their cycle in theusual period of time. This escapement movement in itspreferredconstruction will be next described.

A rotary member 5, such as a disk or wheel is mounted upon a shaft 6driven by means of a pinion 7 from the train of gearing 3. In thepreferred construction now being described, this disk 5 is positionedupon the outside of the usual movement frame l so the shaft- 6 does nothave to eX- tend beyond the disk. At the' periphery of the disk are aplurality of protuberances 8 which preferably project laterally from theplane of the disk. As shown, these protuberances are short pins whichare held fast, as by riveting in the disk. Furthermore, the pinspreferably arel inserted in ears 9 vlvhlich project radially from theedge of the cis Mounted radially of the disk opposite the end of theshaft 6 is a bracket 10 having a lug 11 projecting therefrom directlyopposite the end of the shaft 6. It is to be understood, however, that Ido not restrict myself to the specific bracket and lug, as other meansfor effecting the purpose may be employed within the spirit of thepresent invention. The bracket and lug are for the purpose of supportinga spring 12 diametrically of the disk 5 closely adjacent thereto so asto be in the path of movement of the protuberances 8. As shown, thespring is preferably a leaf spring which normally extends straightacross, that is, without any curvature but which may be deflected at itsopposite ends by engagement with the protuberances 8 as the disk 5rotates. the protuberances 8 will deflect the spring ends, the continuedrotation of the disk will bring the protuberances to a position wherethe spring will become disengaged and the ends will then snap back intotheir normal or straight positions. The parts, however, are soproportioned that the next pin immediately engages the spring and againdelects it.

Arranged opposite the periphery of the disk 5 are a pair of pawls 13having detents 14 which are adapted to engage the said protuberances 8.These pawls and detents are so arranged as to stop rotation of the disk5 when they come into engagement with the protuberances, and it is thisengagement which interferes with the rotation of the disk thusregulating the measurement of time intervals. The pawls 13 also have camportions 15 arranged and adapted to be engaged by the ends of spring 12as they snap back into normal position, this engagement operating tolift the pawl. It may be here noted that the ends of spring 12 areprefer ably curled back upon themselves so as to form a rounding surfacewhich will not wear unduly -in its engagement with the cam 15 orprotuberances 8.

In operation, the rotating member or disk .5 is continuously actuated inthe direction indicated by the arrow, and as it rotates thediametrically opposite pins or protuberances 8, 8 engage near the endsot spring 12 and deflect the same. Continued rotation of member 5operates to move the said pins past the ends of the spring, as is shownas just having happened in Fig. 3. As soon as the spring ends becomethus released, the next pins to the rea-r are engaged by the pawls 13,thus stopping rotation of said member 5. However, as soon as spring endsare released, the spring will tend to straighten, and in doing so itsends ily back and engage under the cam portions 15, raising the pawlsand thus releasing the pin so as to permit the rotating member toadvance another step. Obviously as soon as said member is released, itwill continue to rotate and the pin which was held by the pawlimmediately engages the spring to deflect it again, thus repeating theabove described operation. It may be here noted that a suitable spring16 is provided 'for each pawl 'for actuating the pawl toward therotating member.

rIhe foregoing desc iption more particularly applies to a movement inwhich the rotating member is outside the usual movement iframe. However,it is to be understood that the whole operating structure may bearranged to be entirely within the frame. This may be accomplished invarious ways, one of which is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. In saidfigures, the reference numeral 17 indicatesthe watch frame, and numeral18 indicates the rotatable member mounted within the same on shaft 19.In this case shaft 19 is shown extending through the rotating member soas to have a bearing in both plates oi the frame. It is therefore notpracticable in this inst-ance to provide a lug opposite the end of saidshaft to receive the releasing spring as in the embodiment previouslydescribed. Instead, I provide two lugs, one on either side of the shaftclosely adjacent thereto. As shown, these lugs, numbered 20, 20, areinteg 'al with the trame plate on the inside of the same and projectinwardly substantially to the rotating member. Each of these lugscarries a spring 21, 21 which projects outward and is adapted to bedeflected by pins 22, on said rotating member similar to theconstruction and operation described in connection with the preferredconstruction. Said springs 21, 21 likewise operate pawls 23, as in thepreviously described construction.

In Figs. 7 and 8, I have shown a still further modiied constructionwherein a lever is introduced between the spring` and the actuatingpins. In said iigures, a rotating member 2li is shown having a pluralityof protuberances or pins 25 at its periphery. Fast with respect to theframe is a lug 26 which supports a spring 27. This spring extendsinwardly adjacent the center of the rotating member and its free endbears against an arm of a bell-crank lever 28 pivoted to the frameadjacent the center of the rota-ting member. The long arm of the lever28 projects outwardly and is adapted to be engaged by the pins 25. Dueto the eccentricity of the pivotal mounting of the lever with respect tothe rotating member, the end of the lever will slip from its engagementwith the pin as the rotating member is turned around, and the pressureexerted by the spring 27 will snap the lever back again to repeat theoperation. As said lever snaps back, its end comes into engagement witha pawl 29 to litt the same. Said pawl, as in the previously describedconstructions, will interrupt the movement of the rotating member, butis adapted to be automatically released as just described.

The pawl in any one of the structures adopted may be of any desiredconstruction, and for illustrative purposes I have shown the pawl inFigs. 1 to 6 as of a rigid type, pivoted near one end and pressed intoposition by a spring. In Figs. 7 and 8. on the other hand, the pawls 29are shown as themselves the springs. Lugs 30, 80 are provided in theframe for receiving and holdingone end of the spring-pawls. and theother end of said pawls are provided with pin engaging shoulders andtherebeyond a cam portion 32 by means of which the pawl may be delected.

Obviously other detail changes and modifications may be made inmanufacture and use of my improved time-piece movement, and I do notwish to be understood as conining myself to the exact structure shownexcept as required by the following claims when construed in the lightoi the prior art.

I claim 1. In a time piece movement, the combination with motive means,of a rotary member constantly actuated inone direction, said memberhaving protuberances thereon, stop 10 stop means from the nextprotuberanee.

2. In a time piece movement, the combination with motive means, of arotary member actuated in one direction protuberances on said member,means adapted to engage said protuberances for interrupting the rotationof said member, a cam lever for disengaging said interrupting means, anda spring for operating said lever.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

THOMAS F. I. OBRIEN.

